801 Eye Glasses collected during the Recycling Initiative - Operation Eye Opener

Intel launched operation Eye Opener last month in conjunction with seventeen local pharmacies in Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge, Kilcock. Intel put collection boxes in each of its canteens and also put them in each of the local pharmacies and opticians. 801 old pairs of glasses were collected in total and these will be sent to Vision Aid Overseas who will distribute them to under-privileged people all over the world. The glasses will help in battling many diseases affecting people in developing countries, such as glaucoma.

This initiative is part of Intel's continued commitment to increasing the recycling rate in the local area, and this is just one of a number of different and interesting recycling initiatives have taken place over the last year including household hazardous waste collection; PC/Electronic waste collection; and bicycle recycling.

Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) is a charity dedicated to helping people in developing countries whose lives are blighted by bad eyesight, particularly in those cases where spectacles can help. In 1985, a group of optometrists and dispensing opticians visited a number of developing countries and were appalled at the lack of eye care. They decided to do something about it and took 2 weeks out of their consulting rooms to establish clinics in particularly needy parts of the world and dispense second-hand spectacles. Overwhelmed by their reception, they had no doubt that they were making dramatic improvements to the lives of many people affected by bad eyesight. There was an encouraging groundswell of support from the public and new members came forward before the group became a registered charity in 1987 under the name Vision Aid Overseas. Subsequently, teams of volunteers have set off each year to countries as varied as Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, India, and Vietnam. Each team consists of 4-8 optometrists and dispensing opticians and they take with them thousands of pairs of recycled spectacles, which have been carefully sorted and graded.

Intel would like to thank everyone in Intel and the local community who went to the effort to bring their old eyeglasses to the collection points. Also a big thank you to the local pharmacies and opticians who so eagerly participated in this worthwhile initiative. Many disadvantaged adults and children will benefit from the generosity of the North Kildare area and their quality of life will be greatly improved.

For further details of this programme or if you have an idea for another recycling project, please contact Lisa Harlow, 01-6067144.